[kenny z]

When you guys swab the barrel after every shot or whenever do you take the breech plug out or just swab up to it and pull back.

 

[FrontierGander]

Either way will work. You just have to watch out and not soak the plug with a super wet patch. Good idea to follow up after swabbing with at least 1 fired primer to dry things out.

 

[kenny z]

Yeah pulling that breech out after every shot was gettin old,Tried just swabbing with the breech in and it seemed to work fine so I will do that from now on.I hear people getting 5-10+ shots without swabbing the barrel I am lucky to push the second one down.

 

[FrontierGander]

well certain powder/primer combos can cause a crud ring whichs limits you to 1 or 2 shots. Blackhorn209 on the other hand, 60+ shots without ever having to swab.

 

[Pete D.]

take the breech plug out

Taking the breechplug out? It ain't gonna happen with a GPR flintlock nor with a flintlock fowler. Neither is Blackthorn 209.
At the range, I'll swab with an alcohol patch between shots. When I'm in the field, I will not. But then....how many shots do ya get while hunting?
Pete

 

[TMan]

When you guys swab the barrel after every shot or whenever do you take the breech plug out or just swab up to it and pull back.

Try this:

For shooting at the range, I put a .50/.54 caliber brush on the rod. and pass it up and down the bore between shots. Bullets, sabot's and patched balls seat easily. (Learned that shooting with a group of experienced guys at a rondevous shoot).

For hunting with BP, I put a felt donut under the jag, lubed with Crisco. When I need a second/follow up shot, one pass with the Crisco clears the fouling and allows the ball to be seated easily even with a tight patch. Didn't figure that out myself either :-(

In the good ole days, the mountain men blew down the bore, and there was enough moisture in their breath to soften the fouling, but it gets old on a long shooting session. And you need to get your breath in/out timing right.